Question

Pushy parents and teachers who “hothouse” the under-5s risk causing damage to the children’s long term development, a leading education expert said.

       Lilian Katz, Professor of Education at the University of Illinois, said that four-year-olds engaged in reading and writing went on to perform worse academiclly than those engaged in imaginative learning. They scored higher in tests at the age of 5, but children whose first year at school was stimulating outstripped them four years later.

   The findings suggest that the government's structured approach to early years' learning could be storing up problems for children. They also raise serious questions about the plan for all children to be able to read by the age of 6.

   In many countries formal teaching does not start until children are 6 or 7 and have improved their social and manual skills. Children start learning to read and write at 6 in the United States. France and Germany , and at 7 in Finland and Sweden.

   Professor Katz said that in many schools the courses were "boring children to tears". Much academic teaching required children to learn by memorizing pieces of information out of context, she said. Teaching in reception class should instead allow children to develop their intellect by exploring their environments and asking questions.

   "Research suggests the benefits of formal academic insturction for four- and five-year-olds seem to be promising when they are tested early, but considerably less so in the long term. When these children are followed over a period of three or more years, those who had early experience in more intellectually engaging curricula were more likely to do well in school than their peers, who had received early academic instruction." She avocates teaching children through first-hand experience and play, in mixed-aged classes. This can include puppet shows, drawing or running a pretend shop in the classroom.

1．According to the passage, those who “hothouse” the under-5s would probably _________.

       A. prefer a lot of interaction and stimulation while teaching

       B. teach in a lively way to motivate kids’ interest

       C. push the kids to memorize pieces of information

       D. care about the kids’ physical development

2．What does the underlined word “ outstripped” in Paragraph 2 mean?

       A. did better than                                B. looked down upon

       C. caught up with                                      D. performed worse than

3．According to Lilian Katz, the government’s structured approach to early-years learning ______.

       A. is necessary for improving children’s reading and writing ability

       B. needs to be improved to develop children’s academicability

       C. will cause problems to children in their future learning

       D. has more advantages than disadvantages

4．The message the author wants to deliver through the passage is that formal teaching _______.

       A. can start at different times in different countries.

       B. should not be started too early

       C. is best carried out in Finland and Sweden

       D. should include teaching children social and manual skills

5．Which of the following is NOT the opinion of Lilian Katz?

       A. Children should be taught through first-hand experience.

       B. Learning in a mixed-age class is good for children.

       C. Running a shop can help children get good marks.

       D. Puppet shows and drawing are useful easy in teaching children.

Answer 1

1--5   CACBC   

解析:

本文属于教育类文章。研究发现过早接受正规教育虽然能使儿童在开始时学业优秀，但对其以后的发展会造成很多问题。

1．C  细节理解题。文章第一段说明这种教育模式会对五岁以下的儿童的长远发展造成危害，而从第五段“….. required children to learn by memorizing pieces of information out of context…..”可知，这种教育模式是侧重于死记硬背。

2．A  词义猜测题。由第一段及第二段中的第一句可知五岁前接受读写训练的孩子在四年后成绩不如那些曾经在一年级接受过启发性教育的同龄人。

3．C  细节理解题。根据文章第三段可知政府的固定教育法会给孩子将来的发展留下许多隐患。

4．B  推理判断题。从第四段我们可知孩子在六、七岁以后，社交技能和动手技能才得到发展，所以正确的做法是让学生在探究环境中和提问的过程中开发智力，而不是过过多的正规教育要求学生死记硬背很多东西（第五段），因此说明了过早实施正规教育对孩子没有益处。

5．C  细节理解题。从文章最后一段的最后两句“She advocates teaching children through…., include puppet shows…”可知A、B和D三项是Lilian Katz所赞成的，C项意思与原文有偏差。